And first the constitution should provide for a fair and
equal representation. That is that every member of the
union have a freedom of suffrage and that every equal
number of people have an equal number of representatives;
for if the preceding sentiments are just, no one deprived
of suffrage, ought (unless he voluntarily adopt it at
least implicitly) to be under the controul or direction of
such constitution, or any law made in consequence of it: it
is no law to him, he is in respect of it, still in a state of
nature: and without equality of numbers it would be unjust;
for it is incontestable that if every man has an equal
natural right to governing power, he has an equal right to
every thing that represents it; and if we suppose for instance
one district to contain one hundred inhabitants, and
another a thousand: each entitled to send two representatives;
if we suppose the former to be only duly represented,
then there will be nine hundred in the latter not
represented at all; But this is so plain a case that it is only
strange that it should ever have been controverted.

But again it should provide against their holding those
trusts for long terms. This would call into public service a
greater variety of estimable characters; would beget an
emulation who should serve their country the most essentially;
and make it perhaps as fashionable a virtue to serve
the interest of the public, as it has been formerly a vice to
serve the private interest of some favorite family or worthless
dependent. Besides, this is a security which the people
owe to themselves, for the fidelity of their servants; and
perhaps the only good security they can have: add to this
temporary intervals of ineligibility, that they may in a private
capacity feel all the good and evil effects resulting
from their administration; and be prevented from acquiring
any influence, dangerous to the liberty of the community.
Who ever doubts the utility of this provisionary measure
let him just recur to the state of the British
government under the triennial and septennial parliaments:
and he will soon be satisfied.